Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Synonyms
Family
Food -Ripe fruit are consumed fresh.
Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan
Open hillsides at elevations of 1200- 2700m
A versatile Himalayan shrub that bears clusters of fruits that resembles blueberries.
Small tree or large shrub, up to 5 m tall.
The stems are woody and upright, with branches that typically grow in an upright or slightly spreading pattern. Young stems are typically a greenish-brown or reddish-brown color.
Leaves are lanceshaped or elliptic, 5-12 cm long, 1-1.5 cm broad, shortly toothed to nearly entire, usually hairless. Leaf-stalks are 2.5-7.5 mm long.
Flowers are 3 mm across, reddish to white, in dense fascicles in leaf axils. Flower-stalks are 1-2.5 mm long. Sepals and petals are 4-5. Stigmas are 2-3-lobed, with flat, spreading, frilly lobes.
Fruit is round berry about 6 mm across, bright blue to reddish-purple, fleshy, edible.
Flowering: February – April
Fruiting: October – December